Cannabis Beer Brewer Prepares for National US Distribution

A Colorado company says it has cleared a major hurdle to distribute cannabis-infused beer nationwide, and that it’s developed the business relationships necessary to rapidly scale up production to meet what could be enormous demand.

The company, Aurora-based Dad and Dude’s Breweria, says it has received federal formula approval for an extract-infused beer variety from the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which acts as gatekeeper for interstate beer sales.

The bureau still must approve a label for the beer, but that is seen as a lower hurdle. Once label approval is given, the company can begin sales beyond Colorado state lines.

Mason Hembree, president and co-owner of Dad and Dude’s, says the small, family owned company is ready for potentially explosive growth.

The company initially is partnering with a Colorado brewer that can make 10,000 barrels annually, he says, and has teamed up with a national brewer group with excess capacity, expanding potential production to at least 100,000 barrels (31 gallons each) – enough for more than 5 million six-packs of 12-ounce bottles.